This past Saturday my two year old was a crying, tired mess of a toddler. A long mid-day drive to a family get-together messed with his nap schedule. That combined with the onset of a cold, left my poor guy at the end of his rope by evening. It was half an hour before dinner and he was crying uncontrollably, in front of all of our relatives. After my husband and I took turns trying to rock him and calm him down unsuccessfully, I ran out to the car for my homemade mei tai. I tied him onto me and rocked back and forth in a quiet room for a few minutes - he immediately calmed down and put his head on my chest.
It seems that after over two years of being worn, its instinctual for him now that being wrapped up against me is instantly calming for him. Soon after I was able to join the others and sit down for dinner, all the while wearing him. He nodded in and out of sleep while I ate and talked. I’ll admit, wearing a two year old on my belly while eating a multi course feast was not the most comfortable, but it was peaceful, which is all a mother could ask for at that point.
By dessert he found his second wind and played peacefully down on the floor next to me while I slowly savored coffee and apple pie.
Once again, babywearing saves the day. Now I’ll make extra sure that my mei tai is always close at hand during this holiday season.
If you’d like to learn more about babywearing, read my post on How to Wear Your Baby or see me wearing my little one during last years cold season.
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do and I think babywearing definitely helps me be a better mother in that way!
Steph